The clacking of the boards was a sign of respect. The contest and community event was organized in honor of Saranac Laker Joey Boyle, who died unexpectedly in January. He was 32.

Carter Beitz, who owns the Malone-based Jebus Skateboards company, said Boyle’s family and the skate park committee reached out to him to organize an event in Boyle’s honor.

He was excited by the turnout over the weekend and said he plans to make it an annual event.

Boyle’s mother, Renee, said it meant a lot to the family to see people turn out to remember her son and continue his legacy. The event raised money for a Joey Boyle Memorial Scholarship Fund. Boyle’s sister Jackie’s son Oscar Murray even competed in the beginners round of competition.

Luca Jackson leaps off the half-pipe while skating at the Jam for Joey at the Saranac Lake Skateboard Park on Saturday. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone) (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Skaters at the park said Boyle was an active member of the Saranac Lake skate community and a mentor to young skaters. He taught lessons at the park several years ago.

“I had the pleasure of meeting Joey in the early days of the park,” Beitz said. “He was kind and enthusiastic, always welcoming any newcomers with a helping hand. The type of personality that keeps new generations coming in, making new friends and sharing the mutual love of something like skateboarding with one another.”

Along with being the first skate jam at the park since 2021, and a homage to Boyle, the event also marked the 10-year anniversary of the skate park being open. A decade in, and John Skerp, who has been skating at the park since it opened, said he’s happy with how the town has taken care of it.

Beitz has been skating since he was 12. He said, as someone who didn’t play the typical sports, having places like the Saranac Lake Skateboard Park to skate and make friends was invaluable for after-school hang-outs.

He was glad to see kids as young as Jude Vislocky, 2, getting on boards and learning to skate.

Jude Vislocky, 2, pushes his board to the top of a ramp while skating at the Jam for Joey at the Saranac Lake Skateboard Park on Saturday. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Jared Vislocky soars in the air off a half-pipe while skating at the Jam for Joey at the Saranac Lake Skateboard Park on Saturday. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

A crowd of skaters gathered at the the Saranac Lake Skateboard Park on Saturday for the “Jam for Joey,” a skate jam competition honoring Saranac Laker Joey Boyle, who died in January. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Dan Klebes flips his board while skating at the Jam for Joey at the Saranac Lake Skateboard Park on Saturday. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Daniel Klebes IV drops in off ramp while skating at the Jam for Joey at the Saranac Lake Skateboard Park on Saturday. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Ezra Rosen does a manual while skating at the Jam for Joey at the Saranac Lake Skateboard Park on Saturday. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Tyler Hooker does a manual while skating at the Jam for Joey at the Saranac Lake Skateboard Park on Saturday. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Roman Obarski grinds while skating at the Jam for Joey at the Saranac Lake Skateboard Park on Saturday. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Anthony Hernandez leaps while skating at the Jam for Joey at the Saranac Lake Skateboard Park on Saturday. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)